Yogawoman

This award-winning movie has been out for a year, though there are still a lot of us out there who haven’t seen it! I’ve been lucky enough to see it twice in the past month. First, during a residential teacher training week and again last night at a special screening at The Prince Charles Cinema in London.

Present at the screening for a Q&A were two fantastic, inspiring teachers who appear in the film: Gabriela Bozic, who I was fortunate to meet and study with at the London Jivamukti Yoga immersion last Autumn, and Caroline Shola Arewa. Shola is one of the tutors on Laxmi Yoga, so I’m excited to meet her at Part 2 of training this weekend

I actually enjoyed this documentary even more the second time around. It gave me a great deal to think about as far as why I practice, how and why I have come to follow the path of becoming a teacher and what I can contribute.

Seeing the movie also made me reflect on my own journey over the past year. When I first saw this film being promoted on the web before its US release I was just at the beginning of my teacher training journey after some 10 years since my very first yoga class. Watching the movie I noted that I have been amazingly fortunate to practice and study with some amazing teachers (both male and female) over the past decade and that several of them appear in the film as interviewees including Judith Hanson Lasater, Shiva Rea, Sarah Powers, Cyndi Lee, Gabriela and now, Caroline Shola Arewa.

Naturally, with women being the focus of the movie a significant idea that is explored is what women bring to the yoga practice as practitioners and teachers. But you don’t have to be a woman to enjoy it! I came away feeling inspired, uplifted and affirmed. And once again, was the re-iteration of the message that the Yoga is not the Asana. What you do within the confines of your yoga mat is just a tiny part of it. More important than whether we can do handstand in the middle of the room is how and who we choose to be in the world.

If you haven’t had a chance to see the film yet, check it out! Details of worldwide screenings are listed on the yogawoman.tv website and you can keep up to date with them on Facebook and twitter too. Tell your friends! Let’s Spread the Yoga Love

About humbleyogini

I am not an expert – just a humble yogini with so much still to learn. This thing called ‘Yoga’ has unexpectedly crept into my psyche. I want to write about this yoga journey I have embarked upon and see where it takes me. If you are reading this maybe some of this will chime with you.
You can also find me on Twitter @HumbleYogini75.
Namaste.